George Williamson
PHS Class of 1967
George Williamson graduated from Piedmont High School in 1967. A gifted two-sport athlete, he excelled as a sprinter in Track and earned the nickname “Mr. Touchdown” in Football. He was also a standout student and leader throughout his three years at PHS.
Track
George earned three Block Ps in Track and was a major contributor to the Varsity team all three years. He was part of an exceptionally fast group of sprinters in 1966, when it was not unusual for Piedmont to sweep the 100-yard dash and nearly as common to sweep the 200-yard dash. George led off the PHS 440-yard relay team, and Piedmont routinely took the lead after his first leg, setting up the relay victory. His speed added many points to the team’s total and helped win many dual meets. His best time in the 100-yard dash was 10.1 seconds.
Football
George was a one-year starter on the 1964 JV team and a two-year starter on Varsity, and he is regarded as one of the best backs Piedmont High School ever had. He put up strong numbers immediately as a junior. The 1965 season was one to remember: the Varsity team went undefeated and won the Foothill Athletic League (FAL) pennant, with George playing both ways as an Offensive Back and a Defensive Back. He wore number 33 as a junior and switched to number 44 as a senior.
His statistics tell the story. In his senior year, Coach Muenter wanted to spare him unnecessary physical punishment, and George played only one fourth quarter all season. There is no telling how much more he might have achieved had he played every game in full. At the end of the 1966 season, Coach Muenter retired George’s jersey, number 44, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Piedmont Football.
1965 Season
All-FAL First Team
Member of the FAL Champion Football Team
1966 Season
Team Co-Captain
Team Optimo Award
All-FAL First Team, Offense ('66 and '67)
East Bay Prep of the Week ('67) for scoring 5 touchdowns
All-East Bay ('67)
All-Metropolitan ('67)
FAL Top Scoring Leader (1967) - 27 Total Touchdowns
O’Hara Trophy
Doggie Dinner Sportsman Trophy
Jersey #44 retired
** Rushing included 26 touchdowns, the most by anyone in the State that season. George also threw one touchdown pass on a halfback option.
Scholastic Achievements and Leadership
George was exceptional in the classroom and as a leader. He finished Piedmont High School with an overall grade point average of 3.89 and was offered an athletic scholarship to Stanford, but chose an academic scholarship to Harvard instead.
He was also very active in student government and extracurricular activities:
Sophomore year: Spring Class Officer
1966: Fall House of Representatives
California Scholarship Federation (Fall)
1967: Fall Senate
Spring: Alpha Clan President, chosen for scholastic work as well as school activities
Voted “Most Athletic” by his peers
Class President (more than once)
George was known for his great campaign speeches at school-wide auditorium gatherings.
After Piedmont
George graduated from Harvard College on a scholastic scholarship and went on to earn an MBA from Harvard Business School. He enjoyed a successful career in business. He passed away in 2010 after a long battle with cancer.